About this issue
Hi friends, We are so happy to have grandparents as our theme this October. When I think of grandparents, I think about all things warm and loving— protective hugs, endless patience, and loads of pampering. I have had many of you writing to me about enjoying your Tinkle with a grandparent. I hope many of you enjoy this issue too with a beloved grandma or grandpa. But if you do not have your grandparents nearby, do look around in your building or your locality for all those warm and kindly neighbours who would love to read with you or spend some time with you. Perhaps an older neighbour may find it difficult to climb stairs, get groceries or may feel lonely at times. Do offer your help or your company with a smile, whenever you can. However, don’t forget to ask or inform your parents first. This month is special for another reason. October 2 is the birthday of two of the nation's greatest leaders, Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Let's take a few minutes to reflect on and read up about all they have done for our country. This issue also makes me very happy because we had a flood of wildly imaginative ‘Say It Yourself’ entries. Cheers to all of you who sent in your replies. If you are creative enough to write an imaginative one-liner, why not try your hand at writing stories for us? Think it over.
About TINKLE
Tinkle started as a fortnightly children’s comics magazine, in 1980. Under the guidance of editor-founder, Anant Pai, the brand evolved the tagline ‘Where learning meets fun’. It was one of the first few children’s comics magazines with Indian content at that time. Till then children were reading syndicated foreign comics, – Archies, Phantom, Mandrake – translated into Indian languages. In Tinkle, children could read folktales from all over the world as well as stories revolving around the Tinkletoons. Many of these characters have evolved into icons such as Suppandi, Shikari Shambu, Tantri the Mantri, Kalia the Crow, etc. Over the years, newer characters have stepped into the Tinkle pages. These include the Defective Detectives, Butterfingers, Sea Diaries, etc. Apart from comics, the magazine also engages readers with several educative non-fiction pages including puzzles, do-it-yourself crafts, solve-it-yourself mysteries, knowledge features on a wide range of subjects and contests. Though intended as a magazine for children between the ages of 8 and 14, Tinkle’s reach goes far beyond. Families eagerly look forward to the magazine, every month, across the length and breadth of the country. It is probably not just the entertainment but the unexpected insights that the magazine gives their children that families value. Owing to Uncle Pai’s efforts, Tinkle is also welcomed by educators and school principals and thus holds a position as a recommended magazine for wholesome edutainment.